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Walking Trails in North Carolina

The half-mile 8th Street Greenway begins at North Loop Road and follows a tree-lined northwesterly route to Baker's Creek Park, where it connects to a trail of the same name. The pathway is paved, wide and flat through a peaceful area, making ...

Abbotts Creek Trail courses along a tree-lined route beside open fields and subdivisions in a suburban community near Wake Forest, North Carolina. The trail follows Abbotts Creek and passes by North Wake landfill.
For more information contact:
Raleigh ...

The American Tobacco Trail extends uninterrupted from Durham more than 22 miles south through Chatham County to its southern terminus in Wake County. In 2014, a bridge for the trail over Interstate 40 opened, linking the formerly disconnected ...

Stretching from north of Lake Brandt south to Greensboro Country Park and beyond, the newly named Yadkin & Atlantic Greenway is really a combination of three greenway segments, now made into one: the Lake Brandt and Bicentennial greenways and ...

The Avon Creek and the Catawba Creek greenways run through wooded and open areas among both undeveloped and residential neighborhoods. The trail begins at Lineberger Park (700 East Garrison Boulevard) and heads southeast to Robinwood Road, just ...

Most of the short and sweet Baileywick Trail runs through Baileywick Park in the oakwood neighborhood of suburban Raleigh, North Carolina. The 50-acre park has two baseball diamonds, picnic shelters, restrooms and a playground. The park is open ...

The paved, scenic Baker's Creek Greenway follows its eponymous creek, connecting two parks in central North Carolina's Kannapolis. The trail is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a network of pathways across 15 counties in North and South Carolina.
At ...

Beaver Creek Greenway offers a pleasant, paved route in the community of Apex, a western suburb of Raleigh. Much of the trail is wooded and it connects two parks, Kelly Road Park and Jaycee Park. The trail’s east end is not far from the town’s ...

The Belmont Rail Trail is scheduled for construction in fall 2013, with a planned opening set for fall 2014. Paralleling Main Street for much of its route, the asphalt trail will connect Belmont Abbey College (located just off Woodlawn Avenue) ...

At just over 7 miles, the Black Creek Greenway is one of Cary’s longest and most popular trails. The paved pathway connects several parks, schools, and shopping and dining areas.
On its southern end, the trail reaches Fred G. Bond Metro Park, ...

The Brevard Bike Path is a relatively flat trail, nearly 5 miles long. About 1 mile (northwest end) follows the old Carr Lumber Company railway corridor and extends into the Pisgah National Forest up to the Davidson River Campground. The south ...

Briar Creek Greenway will one day stretch 6 miles through Charlotte and connect to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Currently, the trail is open in two disconnected segments totaling 1.4 miles.
The shorter, northern section runs about a half ...

The Buffalo Creek Greenway (also known as the Neuse Riverwalk) meanders along a wooded waterway through the heart of Smithfield in central North Carolina. It is one day hoped to become part of the state's Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a hiking pathway ...

The 4-mile-long Cape Fear River Trail winds through a mix of wooded acres and marshes and affords stunning views of the Cape Fear River. The trail is relatively flat but with some hills. You will encounter boardwalks and bridges, even one covered ...

The Catawba River Greenway meanders, along with its river namesake, through the historic town of Morganton, North Carolina. The trail encompasses wooded areas, open meadows and the quaint commercial village. Virtually in the center of downtown, ...

Take a trip down memory lane by strolling or cycling the Charlotte Trolley Rail-with-Trail. This 2-mile trail follows the Charlotte Trolley as it tootles its way from E. 9th Street in Uptown to Clanton Road in the historic South End.
The ...

The City of Lenoir Greenway is a system of several loops and endpoints meandering through an urban landscape of parks and open areas, recreation centers, the library and wooded tracts. For more information: 828-757-2165

Just a short section of the Deep River Rail-Trail is complete through Franklinville as of early 2011. Highlights of the Deep River Rail-Trail include an old fish weir built by early Native Americans.
There are plans to extend the trail in ...

The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is a paved, heavily wooded pathway along the eastern border of Dismal Swamp State Park. The park offers more than 112,000 acres of forested wetlands and is teeming with wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, subtropical ...

The Dunn-Erwin Rail-Trail traverses 5.3 miles of the Aberdeen and Rockfish corridor in Harnett County, North Carolina. It connects the downtown areas of Dunn and Erwin, coursing through the suburbs, light industrial areas and cotton fields, ...

The Eagle Spur Rail-Trail follows 2.2 miles of the former Durham-New Hill Railroad, from Stagecoach Road along New Hope Creek to Jordan Lake.
When you're done exploring the Eagle Spur, cross over SR 751 and head north a short distance to ...

Endor Iron Furnace Greenway runs along Big Buffalo Creek on the west side of Sanford, which sits about 40 miles southwest of Raleigh. The paved trail begins at Kiwanis Family Park, which offers a playground and picnic tables. From there, it ...

The Forest Creek Access Trail is a short connector trail between the Reservoir Park Greenway and Forest Creek Trail. It is part of a larger system of greenways in the community of Southern Pines in Moore County, North Carolina. For more information, ...

The Forest Creek Trail is an important connecter between the Longleaf Trail at its southern tip and Nick's Creek Trail at its northern end. The adjoining Forest Creek Access also links it to Reservoir Park, which features a 95-acre lake popular ...

The French Broad River Greenway links three of Asheville's parks: Hominy Creek, Carrier, and French Broad River. The trail follows the river, coursing through a wooded strip of land, through the parks and among some residential and light commercial ...

The Gary Shell Cross-City Trail connects the Wilmington campus of the University of North Carolina with the city's many recreational attractions, including Halyburton Park, Empie Park, McCrary Park, and Wade Park.
The developing trail is ...

A trip along the Gold Hill Rail-Trail through this historic village will transport you back to a time when North Carolina was the country's only gold-producing state. Signs posted every few hundred feet along the mile-long dirt and gravel path ...

Green Mill Run Greenway travels for just over a mile through the city of Greenville from the East Carolina University campus to Greensprings Park. About midway, you'll traverse Elm Street Park, which is packed with opportunities for fun; there, ...

Highland Rail Trail is named for the neighborhood that it runs adjacent to as it travels through Gastonia along the former Carolina and Northwestern (C&NW) Railway. Although short, it offers an important connection between downtown Gastonia ...

The Irwin Creek and Stewart Creek Greenways cover 2 miles of trail alongside their namesake creeks in Charlotte's city center. The Irwin Creek Greenway begins at Ray's Splash Planet and travels through Frazier Park and the Wesley Heights neighborhood. ...

The Jacksonville-Camp LeJeune Rail-to-Trails path extends along abandoned rail beds from the Marine Corps base at Camp LeJeune (Midway Park area) 5.2 miles northwest to Marine Boulevard in Jacksonville. The plan is to make the rail-trail part ...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail is situated in a beautiful natural park setting offering a picnic shelter, restrooms, drinking fountains, and parking. Much of the park is heavily wooded and the trail is suitable for hiking and biking. The trail ...

The Knoll Road trail is part of the Southern Pines Greenway system in Moore County, North Carolina. It is 1.5 miles and relatively flat, coursing through a quiet residential area of the community of Southern Pines.
From Midland Road the trail ...

The short Libba Cotton Bikeway is built along an active rail spur right-of-way: the Norfolk and Southern Railroad. The bikeway connects Carrboro's central business district to just west of the UNC campus in Chapel Hill. (Take Cameron Avenue ...

The Little Sugar Creek Greenway, part of the Carolina Thread Trail, runs along eastern Charlotte and will one day stretch more than 15 miles down to the Catawba River in neighboring South Carolina. The trail is a beautiful urban gem, connecting ...

The Little Tennessee River Greenway follows the Little Tennessee River and a tributary, Cartoogechaye Creek. There are plans to extend the greenway from Suli Marsh, at Arthur Drake Road to Lake Emory, another 2 miles.
The greenway meanders ...

The Longleaf Access Trail is a short connector trail between the Tall Timbers Trail and Longleaf Trail. It is part of a larger system of greenways in the community of Southern Pines in Moore County, North Carolina.
For more information, contact:
Town ...

Nestled in the northern outskirts of the charming town of Southern Pines, the Longleaf Trail provides a useful connection between the Pine Grove Village, Talamore and Longleaf neighborhoods. Running between the Forest Creek Trail and the Longleaf ...

The 2.2-mile, paved Louisburg Bike Trail runs from S. Main Street to Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC). At the Main St. end, you'll find the trail at Depot Street Hill, just south of the Tar River bridge. The Louisburg Bike Trail is a ...

On the southern outskirts of Charlotte, a series of connected greeways along creeks form a horseshoe-shaped path of nearly 6 miles. The pathway is primarily paved with wooden boardwalks over creeks and wetlands; a section of the McMullen Creek ...

The Marcia H. Cloninger Rail-Trail, known locally as the Lincolnton Rail-Trail, offers a chance to explore the heart of this small Southern town, highlighted by a stately courthouse, model Main Street, thriving arts scene, and nearby lakes and ...

About 12 miles north of Charlotte, the McDowell Creek Greenway links the communities of Huntersville and Cornelius. The paved, mile-and-a-half route is part of the larger Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network that will connect 15 counties ...

The Military Cutoff Trail is a paved, north-south route paralleling its namesake roadway on the east end of Wilmington. A wide grassy median separates the trail from the busy roadway. The south end of the trail has an urban feel and offers access ...

The Mill Creek Trail provides an important linkage between Reservoir Park -- a popular fishing, boating and hiking spot -- and the Warrior Woods residential area. On its western end, the 1-mile trail connects to the Reservoir Park Greenway that ...

The Muddy Creek Greenway follows its namesake waterway through woodlands and meadows in the western outskirts of Winston-Salem. The mix of environments makes the trail a birdwatchers paradise. Cardinals, bluebirds, chickadees and woodpeckers ...

The 1.2-mile Nantahala Bikeway extends from the Nantahala Outdoor Center to the Nantahala Gorge raft launch site in the Nantahala National Forest. A half-mile of the trail follows an abandoned spur of the Murphy Branch, now the popular Great ...

Along the eastern outskirts of Raleigh, the Neuse River Trail follows the river for nearly 28 miles from Falls Lake Dam to the Wake/Johnston County line. There are several river crossings along the way, including two on suspension bridges. The ...

Nick's Creek Trail provides a tranquil route through scenic woodlands. The 1-mile trail runs from Highway 22 south to the Forest Creek Trail, which leads to Reservoir Park, a popular recreational area.

The Peavine Trail runs for 1.5 miles from State Street in downtown Marion, North Carolina to just south of the First Christian Church on Rutherford Road. Construction of the crushed gravel and grass trail began immediately after the City of ...

The Pinehurst Greenway is located in the heart of a premier golf destination. It winds for nearly 6 miles through the community of Pinehurst and its historic business district. The greenway links Rassie Wicker Park, Cannon Park, a butterfly ...

The paved, 3.62-mile Point Lookout Trail follows the Old NC 10/Highway 70 route through the Royal Gorge, once known at the Central Highway, through the Pisgah National Forest. The trail ascends more than 900 feet between Old Fort and Ridgecrest, ...

In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, freed slaves were drawn to an encampment of Union troops along the Tar River in eastern North Carolina. When the troops left, the settlers stayed, calling the area Freedom Hill. In 1885, they officially ...

The Reedy Creek Trail links William B. Umstead State Park to Meredith College. Beginning at the edge of Umstead State Park, the trail passes among some of the area's feature attractions, including the North Carolina Museum of Art (enjoy the ...

The Reservoir Park Greenway is part of a larger system of greenways in the community of Southern Pines in Moore County, North Carolina.
The trail loops around the Southern Pines Reservoir (95 acres) through wooded areas, over a dam and past ...

The Roanoke Canal Trail is a beautiful recreational biking route from the town of Roanoke Rapids to Weldon. The trail follows one of the country's most impressive and best-preserved early 19-century canals. Begun before 1819, and completed in ...

The Rocky Branch Trail offers beautiful views of the Raleigh city skyline, while also passing through the length of the North Carolina State University campus. It also links to Pullen Park, which has an aquatics center, arts center, amusements ...

The Roger F. Snyder Greenway is an ambitious project to create a citywide trail system in Albemarle, North Carolina. A portion of the trail is open for use, including two disconnected segments on a former Norfolk Southern Railway corridor. The ...

The Salem Creek Greenway consists of two paved segments that follow the tree-lined creek diagonally for nearly 5 miles across southern Winston-Salem. A short sidewalk connection allows passage between the two.
The trail begins off the parking ...

The Salem Lake Trail runs nearly 7 miles, circling Salem Lake at the park of the same name in the city of Winston-Salem. Near downtown, the park offers a 365-acre lake and the trail provides scenic lake views. The surface is dirt, sand, gravel ...

Sam's Branch Greenway is a short, but scenic trail in the town of Clayton, just south of Raleigh. At the Neuse River, it connects to the Clayton River Walk, which in turn connects to the Neuse River Trail, offering a combined 33 continuous miles ...

The Simms Branch Trail boasts several areas of large loblolly pine and connects Falls River to Durant Park. Watch for wildlife, including plenty of deer and maybe some beaver. You'll find a small waterfall near Durant Middle School and some ...

The Skewarkee Trail in Williamston, NC, runs along a railroad corridor that was once part of the Atlantic Coastline Railway. The wide, paved track is 1 mile long and a nice jaunt for bikers, inline skaters, walkers and joggers. Nearby you can ...

The Snelling Branch Trail is just under 1 mile and links Shelley Lake with Optimist Park. The Snelling Branch Trail, which runs east and west, joins Mine Creek Trail north of Shelley Lake.
The 30-acre Optimist Park includes a nature trail, ...

As you might expect, the South Fork Rail-Trail closely follows the South Fork of the Catawba River. The trail rests atop a former rail corridor within land preserved by the Catawba Lands Conservancy. Scenic views of the river abound, and wildflowers ...

South Tar River Greenway offers a pleasant, wooded route of just over 3 miles in the eastern North Carolina city of Greenville. The paved trail follows the southern bank of the Tar River with few road crossings, providing a nice option for families. ...

Speight Branch Greenway offers a paved, shaded route through a residential area of Cary, which lies on the western edges of Raleigh. The trail begins at Southeast Cary Parkway and travels north along Speight Branch Creek. A pedestrian tunnel ...

The Tall Timbers Trail is a short connector trail between the Longleaf Access Trail and the Reservoir Park Greenway. It is part of a larger system of greenways in the community of Southern Pines in Moore County, North Carolina.
For more information, ...

The Tanglewood Trail is a short, gravel trail in the Tanglewood section of the Southern Pines community, Moore County, North Carolina. The trail is part of a larger system of greenways in Southern Pines. It starts on Morganton Road, and even ...

The Tar River Trail parallels the Tar River, where Tuscarora Indians traveled before colonists settled here. Along the trail you will find evidence of early colonial history, the industrial revolution, Civil War activity and a tribute to the ...

If you enjoy rail-trails that flaunt their railroading past, you're sure to love the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. This well-maintained route runs 8 miles from Spindale north to Gilkey, passing through the tiny towns of Rutherfordton and Ruth. Its ...

Torrence Creek Greenway offers a pleasant route through meadows, woodlands, and wetlands south of Huntersville. Along the paved, 1.4-mile route, the trail offers many points to access the surrounding neighborhoods. On its eastern end, there ...

The 1-mile Troutman Rail-Trail runs from Troutman's business district to a newer north end shopping area, following the former rail bed of the Statesville to Charlotte Norfolk Southern Line. The rail-trail lies between US 21/SR 115/Main Street ...

The Wakefield Trail follows the power line from Falls of Neuse Road south to Dunard Street, just under 1.5 miles. There is a slight jog in the trail where it meets Wakefield Plantation Drive. If you're heading south, at Wakefield Plantation ...

The White Oak Creek Greenway runs through Cary, a city in North Carolina’s Triangle region that also includes Raleigh and Durham. In fact, future plans call for linking it to the American Tobacco Trail, the state’s longest rail-trail, which ...

As its name suggests, the Winston-Salem Strollway presents the perfect setting for a leisurely walk. Completed in 1988, the popular rail-trail links Winston-Salem's modern business district with historic Old Salem.
The first segment threads ...

The Yadkin Rail Trail, also known as the Rock Creek Park Greenway, is a short hiking trail south of Albemarle, North Carolina. The trail follows the same former Norfolk Southern Railway corridor as the Roger F. Snyder Greenway farther north, ...

The Yadkin River Greenway is a work in progress, currently in three segments that have yet to be joined. Construction will take place during summer 2011.
The first segment of the greenway begins at the D Street bridge in North Wilkesboro ...

The multi-use Yadkin River Trail accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers in the beautiful Happy Valley area of Caldwell County. The 2-mile trail is paved and includes a walking loop near the Happy Valley Elementary School.